The chain of stores begins the transition from plastic to compostable bags, introducing them in 36 of its 100 stores around the Island.
San Juan, Puerto Rico – The Me Salvé chain of stores took a big step in favor of the environment by changing its plastic bags for 100% compostable bags, that is, it can degrade biologically without generating any toxic waste.
Larry Monge, Marketing Director of Me Salvé, emphasized that they began to evaluate the possibility of introducing this type of carrier in their stores, since it was determined in 2016 that establishments could not offer plastic bags for free, and began to offer, at an additional cost to consumers, covers that were marketed as reusable.
“We understood that this type of bag was twice as thick and had greater difficulty in decomposing. According to the information we collected, the plastic bags we know take between 500 and 900 years to decompose and in Puerto Rico they generate about 70 thousand tons of plastic waste annually. So, we look for a real solution,” says Monge.
This is how the company moved towards 100% compostable bags, after seeing that it was the most appropriate solution. Monge stressed that this type of bag disintegrates in three or four months, on earth, and, if it is seized, it loses strength. Once it is discarded, it disappears into the landfill within a year.
With the integration of this product, Me Salvé becomes the first company in Puerto Rico to make this type of transition to an eco-friendly material.
The executive indicated that he hopes that they have already begun with the introduction of the bags in 36 of their stores, and they aspire to take them to all stores before the end of the year.